The constellations are so unfamiliar 2/?
The constellations are so unfamiliar 2/?
Tao/Sehun; AU, dystopian, romance, slight angst; PG13; 3163
In a world of metal and concrete and nothing else Sehun longs for the trees and just maybe something else.
A/N: I'm sorry but updates for this will be slow. :(
chapter one
The outside world is exactly what Sehun had pictured. Just beyond the wall is concrete as far as the eye can see. Dread pools in the bottom of his stomach. Their escape was tricky and now they have to walk out in the open? Sehun doesn't think they will make it very far but he doesn't tell any of the others that.
They've only been walking for an hour but Sehun has got everyone’s name down already.(he's good with putting names and faces together) There is Wufan the leader, he is the towering man with the deep commanding voice, everything about him screams authority. There is Jongdae who seems very skittish when near Sehun but that doesn't stop him from talking up a storm with the others as they walk. Sehun doesn't think Jongdae could stop talking if his life depended on it. Then there is Chanyeol, the tall man with the surprisingly deep voice who talks enthusiastically to Jongdae. Last but not least is Jongin. He hasn't said a word since they crossed the wall and Sehun gets the impression that he likes to be left alone.
The six of them walk as fast as they can underneath the scorching hot sun. The concrete only makes the world burn hotter than it should but they trudge on without rest. They can't slow down and definitely can't stop, they have to get a good distance away from the border of the city in case the guard decides to hunt them down and throw them into prison camps.
Sehun learns that the place they were going to send him, a prison camp, was the worst possible thing that could’ve happened. They were going to make him slave away sun up till sun down and treat him like dirt, like he was just an insect beneath their feet. Sehun wants to say that the mayor would never allow such a thing in the city to happen, but he knows that would be a lie. He's learning how corrupt his world really is. His eyes are being slowly pried open with the truth.
-----
Just as Zitao believes the concrete will never end it does. It's an abrupt change, turning to desert in the most unexpected spot. Sehun glances over his shoulder after the concrete has turned to sand and finds that after hours of walking he can't see the wall any longer. The whole group comes to a stop at the end of the concrete. "Alright guys let's take a ten minute break. We'll walk till the sun begins to set then we'll stop for the night." Wufan says sitting down on the concrete to rest.
Sehun locks eyes with Zitao. "How long is this going to take?"
Zitao plops down into the sand instead of sitting on the concrete with the others. "We should reach the forest by the end of tomorrow." Zitao hands Sehun a bottle of water which Sehun takes without question. He drinks the rest of the water in the bottle in one swallow. His body isn't accustomed to going without liquid for so long.
The break is up before Sehun even feels a tad bit rested, it definitely didn't feel like ten minutes, if felt more like ten seconds. He groans and refuses to get up off the sand. Zitao frowns down at him. He then breaks out into a smile and holds his hand out for Sehun. Sehun groans one last time before taking Zitao's hand and allowing him to pull him to his feet.
Then they are moving again, this time through an even rougher environment. Walking through the sand is a lot harder than Sehun had expected it to be. His legs are wobbly beneath his body and he can't seem to make it five steps without stumbling. He watches everyone else walk with ease and it makes him infuriated that he can't even do something as simple as walking like the rest of the anti-techs. They are all clearly used to making this trek back and forth, they all know what they are doing. Their bodies are strong enough to handle this journey. Sehun feels out of place amongst them, the most exercise he gets are his weekly 3 mile runs that are mandatory. Other than that he doesn't do much fatiguing things.
Sehun is at the very back of the pack struggling. Zitao is right in front of him constantly looking over his shoulder to make sure that Sehun is still moving. No one else cares to check on him but he doesn’t really expect them to. Zitao at least makes sure he doesn't stray to far behind and for that Sehun is extremely thankful.
Wufan stops suddenly and turns around to face everyone. "Sehun come up here." He commands.
Sehun nods before making his way to Wufan. As soon as he is close to Wufan his face is being grasped in giant rough hands, the callouses scratching into the soft skin of his face. Wufan peers down into his eyes. "Shit." He murmurs. He beckons Jongin over to them.
"How long will it take for the nanos to be out of his system?" Wufan asks Jongin. Jongin moves in front of Sehun slightly pushing Wufan out of the way. Wufan takes the hint and drops Sehun's face so Jongin has a better view of his eyes.
"When did you last take your nano shot?" Jongin asks still staring into Sehun’s eyes. This is the first time Sehun has heard Jongin speak since leaving the city. Sehun was beginning to think he couldn’t speak at all.
Sehun looks away and stares off into the distance feeling suddenly awkward. "Two- maybe three days ago." Sehun answers with a halfhearted shrug.
Jongin turns back to Wufan. "It will be another three days or so before the nanos are completely out of his system without any help." Jongin states. "They will still be traceable the whole time." He adds running a hand through his hair.
Wufan sighs and looks at the others standing in the area. He seems to go through a bunch of thoughts in only seconds, he is trying to figure out what to do. "We need to stop for the night in a few hours. I’ll try to come up with a plan before tomorrow morning.”
Then they are all walking once again.
-----
Sehun groans when Wufan announces they will stop for the night a few hours later. The sun set a few hours ago but Wufan insisted they keep going just a little farther. Sehun falls onto his stomach into the warm sand letting it cushion his sore body. Sehun has never walked so far in his entire existence. His legs are sore and he is hungry. He feels someone settle into the sand next to him but he is too exhausted to lift his head and see who it is, though he already has a good idea of who it could be.
He feels someone poke him in the ribs a few minutes later. "You need something to eat." Zitao says.
Sehun pushes himself up to his knees and turns his head so that he is looking right at Zitao. "What am I doing here?" He asks.
Zitao's face registers a little bit of shock before going back to normal. "You're here because this is where you need to be. We need people like you." Zitao answers. He holds his hand out trying to hand Sehun a bag of something.
Sehun takes the bag and looks inside. "What-"
"It's dried fruit." Zitao answer before Sehun can even get the full question out of his mouth.
Sehun doesn't need to think twice about shoving the rest of the bag into his mouth. Zitao just watches him as he manages to finish the rest easily. "Do you have anymore?" Sehun asks greedily. The fruit, even though dried, had more flavor than the so called fresh fruit they got to eat in the city. This fruit was bursting with flavor giving his taste buds a sensation they aren’t familiar with. He loves it.
Zitao laughs. "Maybe later, we can’t eat it all in one sitting, we don’t want to run out." Zitao is about to say something more but Wufan clears his throat loudly to get everyone's attention.
"Here's the plan." Wufan starts once all eyes are on him. "Two people will be on watch for two hours each before two new people will take their places. Jongin and I will take first watch, second watch will be up to Jongdae and Chanyeol. Third watch will be Zitao and Sehun bringing us into morning." He looks around making sure everyone has the simple task they are given down. "We will continue walking as soon as the sun rises." He nods once and then goes back to where he was sitting before.
Sehun watches as Jongdae and Chanyeol plop onto their backs into the sand trying to get comfortable. Chanyeol laughs loudly at something Jongdae says and then turns on his side closing his eyes. Sehun lies down on his back in the sand like the two of them had. It’s not really comfortable, it’s hot and sand is getting all over his body making him feel like insects are crawling on every exposed inch of skin. Do they really expect him to sleep in the sand like this? How can anyone sleep in the sand? It’ not even a tad comfortable.
"Just close your eyes and sleep will come easily. You're exhausted." Zitao whispers right near Sehun’s hear scaring him a little.
Zitao’s words are easier said than done. No matter how much Sehun tries he can't seem to feel even a tiny bit sleepy. After what seems like three hours but in reality is probably a little less than a half hour, he sits up and looks around. Zitao is snoring softly a few feet away while Jongdae and Chanyeol look as if they are out cold. All three of them look comfortable laying in the sand, their faces smoothed with sleep they clearly need. How did they manage to do it? How often do they have to do this?
Sehun lies back down and stares up at the sky but then he notices something strange. There are lights up there! The stars. Sehun can vaguely remember lying out under the moonlight with his father looking up at the stars in the dark sky. His father would point out all the constellations to him telling him everything he knew about them to Sehun. Sehun was always fascinated as a child, he loved the time he spent out under the blanket of stars with his Dad. The sad thing is he hasn't seen the stars since moving into the city.
The stars end up being what relax Sehun enough to finally fall asleep. He dreams of his father and him lying out as they used to do. It’s the first time in a long time that he has dreamed of something good.
-----
"Wake up sleeping beauty." A lulling voice whispers, hot breath against the shell of Sehun’s ear.
Sehun groans and rolls over onto his other side away from the intrusion. "One more minute." He grumbles.
He hears soft laughter. His eyes pop open as he realizes where and who he is with. He sits up rubbing his eyes. It's still dark but he can see Zitao kneeling to the side of him. "It's our turn to take watch." Zitao whispers.
Sehun groans and slowly rises to his feet, with Zitao's help of course. They move away from the other's sleeping forms. Jongdae and Chanyeol just falling back to sleep after their watch. It's amazing really, they can fall asleep within seconds of lying there head down in the sand.
Zitao and Sehun sit down when they are thirty feet away from the others. They are facing the direction of the city knowing that if anyone comes it will be from that direction. Zitao hands Sehun another bottle of water. This time Sehun takes his time emptying it.
Sehun stares up at the stars in wonder once again. He doesn't think he could ever get sick of looking up at their beauty. Zitao watches him watch the sky but Sehun for once doesn't feel uncomfortable. The stars seem to settle Sehun, they make him feel at peace, like nothing could go wrong as long as the stars are in their place above his head.
"Tell me your story." Sehun says breaking the silence. He turns his face away from the sky and focuses on Zitao. He doesn’t know if this is the right thing to ask of Zitao so soon but his curiosity is eating him up. “What was your life like outside the walls of a city?”
Zitao looks down and starts to draw lazy circles in the sand with his index finger. "I was born outside the walls of a city, but it wasn't what I would call pleasant. I grew up in an anti-tech prison camp, like the one they wanted to send you to. It was when they were first starting to develop though. My mother was captured when she was pregnant with me. It wasn't the same as the camps are today, they were less organized back then but they were bad maybe worse than now." He pauses and looks up at Sehun. "I stayed in the camp with my mother until I was thirteen, then they moved me into a men’s camp." He looks back down and continues to draw in the sand.
"I got sick. I was barely breathing at one point. The men in charge of the camp didn't care about me, they didn't give me extra rations or any medicines. They just watched as I suffered and slowly started to die. But there was still a light at the end of the tunnel. I never lost hope." He looks up at Sehun. "Your father, he was my saving grace. He broke down the wall to the camp and he himself carried me out of the prison. He brought me and the rest of the survivors of the escape back to his village. It was a small village but in a good, safe location. Your father nursed me back to health, he saved my life." There are tears filling Zitao's eyes now and Sehun can feel the raw emotion emitting from the man. He has been through hell.
"I never saw my mother or father again after that. The women's camp was supposedly set on fire with everyone still inside. My father on the other hand, I have no information about at all. I just assume he’s dead.”
Sehun wants to speak, he wants to comfort Zitao somehow but he doesn't know what to say. He feels that words will fail him in this moment so he stays silent and lets Zitao continue.
"I got better eventually and learned the ways of the village. It was hard at first learning all new things, learning about things I had never even known existed while living in the camps but life was a lot better. Wufan was the first friend I made in the village. Your father trusts him a lot too, that’s why Wufan is second in command." Zitao smiles at Sehun. "To make this story a lot less tragic I’ll just get to the point. Outside the walls, outside the camps, away from the government and all the rules and regulations we are free.”
Sehun doesn't know what freedom truly is. "I don't understand though. What is so bad about living in the city?"
Zitao doesn't look too amused by the question but Sehun doesn't care. He doesn't see what the big deal is all about. I mean sure they could use a lot more trees and plants in the city, that wouldn't hurt but why go through all the trouble of living away from society? Why rebel?
"Sehun you still don't understand after all I’ve told you?" Zitao shakes his head shamefully. "They are oppressing you. They took away the trees, the animals, everything they could to have control. They are using you people as slaves. If they say jump you all jump. What is so wrong about wanting to live free from advanced technology? What is so wrong about wanting to build real relationships that take actual work and commitment? What is so wrong about nature? It's beautiful and all they want to do it destroy every last thing on this planet until it is nothing but steel and sadness." Zitao slams his fist down into the sand.
Sehun wants to reach out and touch him. He wants to hold him in his arms and get him to calm down but instead Sehun scoots away from the man. His intensity is quite off putting and strangely attractive all at the same time. But Sehun still doesn’t understand what is happening to him. He still can’t see the big picture. Everything Zitao has said is true but Sehun has lived within the walls for far too long. He was much too comfortable living in his sheltered home with no worries except the career test. Now with all these new things he has learned, he knows life isn't as simple as they want to make it seem inside the walls.
There is so much more to the world than Sehun could have ever fathomed.
Sehun moves closer to Zitao. He says nothing. There is nothing for him to say anyway.
------
The sun creeps over the horizon and Sehun watches in fascination. He has watched the sunrise before of course but it's never been this beautiful to him. He’s never actually sat and watched the beauty of a sunrise and really appreciated it. It’s something new, something he wants to really enjoy.
Zitao fell back asleep a little over twenty minutes ago. Sehun decided to let him sleep instead of waking him up. Sehun knew he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep sitting up like Zitao anyways so it wasn’t a problem and plus Zitao really looks like he needs as much sleep as he can get.
As soon as the sun is completely over the horizon Sehun reaches over and shakes Zitao awake. Zitao mumbles something incoherent but wakes up easily. He glances at Sehun. “Shit. Sorry I was just tired. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. You should’ve woken me up sooner.” Zitao yawns and stretches his arms over his head.
Sehun’s eyes travel to the others who are starting to miraculously wake up on their own. Sehun watches in fascination as they wake up without anyone having to do the job.
“Their bodies are used to waking up when the sun rises.” Zitao tells Sehun as he watches Sehun staring at the others with a semi look of shock on his face.
Sehun wonders if eventually that will happen to him too.
Tao/Sehun; AU, dystopian, romance, slight angst; PG13; 3163
In a world of metal and concrete and nothing else Sehun longs for the trees and just maybe something else.
A/N: I'm sorry but updates for this will be slow. :(
chapter one
The outside world is exactly what Sehun had pictured. Just beyond the wall is concrete as far as the eye can see. Dread pools in the bottom of his stomach. Their escape was tricky and now they have to walk out in the open? Sehun doesn't think they will make it very far but he doesn't tell any of the others that.
They've only been walking for an hour but Sehun has got everyone’s name down already.(he's good with putting names and faces together) There is Wufan the leader, he is the towering man with the deep commanding voice, everything about him screams authority. There is Jongdae who seems very skittish when near Sehun but that doesn't stop him from talking up a storm with the others as they walk. Sehun doesn't think Jongdae could stop talking if his life depended on it. Then there is Chanyeol, the tall man with the surprisingly deep voice who talks enthusiastically to Jongdae. Last but not least is Jongin. He hasn't said a word since they crossed the wall and Sehun gets the impression that he likes to be left alone.
The six of them walk as fast as they can underneath the scorching hot sun. The concrete only makes the world burn hotter than it should but they trudge on without rest. They can't slow down and definitely can't stop, they have to get a good distance away from the border of the city in case the guard decides to hunt them down and throw them into prison camps.
Sehun learns that the place they were going to send him, a prison camp, was the worst possible thing that could’ve happened. They were going to make him slave away sun up till sun down and treat him like dirt, like he was just an insect beneath their feet. Sehun wants to say that the mayor would never allow such a thing in the city to happen, but he knows that would be a lie. He's learning how corrupt his world really is. His eyes are being slowly pried open with the truth.
-----
Just as Zitao believes the concrete will never end it does. It's an abrupt change, turning to desert in the most unexpected spot. Sehun glances over his shoulder after the concrete has turned to sand and finds that after hours of walking he can't see the wall any longer. The whole group comes to a stop at the end of the concrete. "Alright guys let's take a ten minute break. We'll walk till the sun begins to set then we'll stop for the night." Wufan says sitting down on the concrete to rest.
Sehun locks eyes with Zitao. "How long is this going to take?"
Zitao plops down into the sand instead of sitting on the concrete with the others. "We should reach the forest by the end of tomorrow." Zitao hands Sehun a bottle of water which Sehun takes without question. He drinks the rest of the water in the bottle in one swallow. His body isn't accustomed to going without liquid for so long.
The break is up before Sehun even feels a tad bit rested, it definitely didn't feel like ten minutes, if felt more like ten seconds. He groans and refuses to get up off the sand. Zitao frowns down at him. He then breaks out into a smile and holds his hand out for Sehun. Sehun groans one last time before taking Zitao's hand and allowing him to pull him to his feet.
Then they are moving again, this time through an even rougher environment. Walking through the sand is a lot harder than Sehun had expected it to be. His legs are wobbly beneath his body and he can't seem to make it five steps without stumbling. He watches everyone else walk with ease and it makes him infuriated that he can't even do something as simple as walking like the rest of the anti-techs. They are all clearly used to making this trek back and forth, they all know what they are doing. Their bodies are strong enough to handle this journey. Sehun feels out of place amongst them, the most exercise he gets are his weekly 3 mile runs that are mandatory. Other than that he doesn't do much fatiguing things.
Sehun is at the very back of the pack struggling. Zitao is right in front of him constantly looking over his shoulder to make sure that Sehun is still moving. No one else cares to check on him but he doesn’t really expect them to. Zitao at least makes sure he doesn't stray to far behind and for that Sehun is extremely thankful.
Wufan stops suddenly and turns around to face everyone. "Sehun come up here." He commands.
Sehun nods before making his way to Wufan. As soon as he is close to Wufan his face is being grasped in giant rough hands, the callouses scratching into the soft skin of his face. Wufan peers down into his eyes. "Shit." He murmurs. He beckons Jongin over to them.
"How long will it take for the nanos to be out of his system?" Wufan asks Jongin. Jongin moves in front of Sehun slightly pushing Wufan out of the way. Wufan takes the hint and drops Sehun's face so Jongin has a better view of his eyes.
"When did you last take your nano shot?" Jongin asks still staring into Sehun’s eyes. This is the first time Sehun has heard Jongin speak since leaving the city. Sehun was beginning to think he couldn’t speak at all.
Sehun looks away and stares off into the distance feeling suddenly awkward. "Two- maybe three days ago." Sehun answers with a halfhearted shrug.
Jongin turns back to Wufan. "It will be another three days or so before the nanos are completely out of his system without any help." Jongin states. "They will still be traceable the whole time." He adds running a hand through his hair.
Wufan sighs and looks at the others standing in the area. He seems to go through a bunch of thoughts in only seconds, he is trying to figure out what to do. "We need to stop for the night in a few hours. I’ll try to come up with a plan before tomorrow morning.”
Then they are all walking once again.
-----
Sehun groans when Wufan announces they will stop for the night a few hours later. The sun set a few hours ago but Wufan insisted they keep going just a little farther. Sehun falls onto his stomach into the warm sand letting it cushion his sore body. Sehun has never walked so far in his entire existence. His legs are sore and he is hungry. He feels someone settle into the sand next to him but he is too exhausted to lift his head and see who it is, though he already has a good idea of who it could be.
He feels someone poke him in the ribs a few minutes later. "You need something to eat." Zitao says.
Sehun pushes himself up to his knees and turns his head so that he is looking right at Zitao. "What am I doing here?" He asks.
Zitao's face registers a little bit of shock before going back to normal. "You're here because this is where you need to be. We need people like you." Zitao answers. He holds his hand out trying to hand Sehun a bag of something.
Sehun takes the bag and looks inside. "What-"
"It's dried fruit." Zitao answer before Sehun can even get the full question out of his mouth.
Sehun doesn't need to think twice about shoving the rest of the bag into his mouth. Zitao just watches him as he manages to finish the rest easily. "Do you have anymore?" Sehun asks greedily. The fruit, even though dried, had more flavor than the so called fresh fruit they got to eat in the city. This fruit was bursting with flavor giving his taste buds a sensation they aren’t familiar with. He loves it.
Zitao laughs. "Maybe later, we can’t eat it all in one sitting, we don’t want to run out." Zitao is about to say something more but Wufan clears his throat loudly to get everyone's attention.
"Here's the plan." Wufan starts once all eyes are on him. "Two people will be on watch for two hours each before two new people will take their places. Jongin and I will take first watch, second watch will be up to Jongdae and Chanyeol. Third watch will be Zitao and Sehun bringing us into morning." He looks around making sure everyone has the simple task they are given down. "We will continue walking as soon as the sun rises." He nods once and then goes back to where he was sitting before.
Sehun watches as Jongdae and Chanyeol plop onto their backs into the sand trying to get comfortable. Chanyeol laughs loudly at something Jongdae says and then turns on his side closing his eyes. Sehun lies down on his back in the sand like the two of them had. It’s not really comfortable, it’s hot and sand is getting all over his body making him feel like insects are crawling on every exposed inch of skin. Do they really expect him to sleep in the sand like this? How can anyone sleep in the sand? It’ not even a tad comfortable.
"Just close your eyes and sleep will come easily. You're exhausted." Zitao whispers right near Sehun’s hear scaring him a little.
Zitao’s words are easier said than done. No matter how much Sehun tries he can't seem to feel even a tiny bit sleepy. After what seems like three hours but in reality is probably a little less than a half hour, he sits up and looks around. Zitao is snoring softly a few feet away while Jongdae and Chanyeol look as if they are out cold. All three of them look comfortable laying in the sand, their faces smoothed with sleep they clearly need. How did they manage to do it? How often do they have to do this?
Sehun lies back down and stares up at the sky but then he notices something strange. There are lights up there! The stars. Sehun can vaguely remember lying out under the moonlight with his father looking up at the stars in the dark sky. His father would point out all the constellations to him telling him everything he knew about them to Sehun. Sehun was always fascinated as a child, he loved the time he spent out under the blanket of stars with his Dad. The sad thing is he hasn't seen the stars since moving into the city.
The stars end up being what relax Sehun enough to finally fall asleep. He dreams of his father and him lying out as they used to do. It’s the first time in a long time that he has dreamed of something good.
-----
"Wake up sleeping beauty." A lulling voice whispers, hot breath against the shell of Sehun’s ear.
Sehun groans and rolls over onto his other side away from the intrusion. "One more minute." He grumbles.
He hears soft laughter. His eyes pop open as he realizes where and who he is with. He sits up rubbing his eyes. It's still dark but he can see Zitao kneeling to the side of him. "It's our turn to take watch." Zitao whispers.
Sehun groans and slowly rises to his feet, with Zitao's help of course. They move away from the other's sleeping forms. Jongdae and Chanyeol just falling back to sleep after their watch. It's amazing really, they can fall asleep within seconds of lying there head down in the sand.
Zitao and Sehun sit down when they are thirty feet away from the others. They are facing the direction of the city knowing that if anyone comes it will be from that direction. Zitao hands Sehun another bottle of water. This time Sehun takes his time emptying it.
Sehun stares up at the stars in wonder once again. He doesn't think he could ever get sick of looking up at their beauty. Zitao watches him watch the sky but Sehun for once doesn't feel uncomfortable. The stars seem to settle Sehun, they make him feel at peace, like nothing could go wrong as long as the stars are in their place above his head.
"Tell me your story." Sehun says breaking the silence. He turns his face away from the sky and focuses on Zitao. He doesn’t know if this is the right thing to ask of Zitao so soon but his curiosity is eating him up. “What was your life like outside the walls of a city?”
Zitao looks down and starts to draw lazy circles in the sand with his index finger. "I was born outside the walls of a city, but it wasn't what I would call pleasant. I grew up in an anti-tech prison camp, like the one they wanted to send you to. It was when they were first starting to develop though. My mother was captured when she was pregnant with me. It wasn't the same as the camps are today, they were less organized back then but they were bad maybe worse than now." He pauses and looks up at Sehun. "I stayed in the camp with my mother until I was thirteen, then they moved me into a men’s camp." He looks back down and continues to draw in the sand.
"I got sick. I was barely breathing at one point. The men in charge of the camp didn't care about me, they didn't give me extra rations or any medicines. They just watched as I suffered and slowly started to die. But there was still a light at the end of the tunnel. I never lost hope." He looks up at Sehun. "Your father, he was my saving grace. He broke down the wall to the camp and he himself carried me out of the prison. He brought me and the rest of the survivors of the escape back to his village. It was a small village but in a good, safe location. Your father nursed me back to health, he saved my life." There are tears filling Zitao's eyes now and Sehun can feel the raw emotion emitting from the man. He has been through hell.
"I never saw my mother or father again after that. The women's camp was supposedly set on fire with everyone still inside. My father on the other hand, I have no information about at all. I just assume he’s dead.”
Sehun wants to speak, he wants to comfort Zitao somehow but he doesn't know what to say. He feels that words will fail him in this moment so he stays silent and lets Zitao continue.
"I got better eventually and learned the ways of the village. It was hard at first learning all new things, learning about things I had never even known existed while living in the camps but life was a lot better. Wufan was the first friend I made in the village. Your father trusts him a lot too, that’s why Wufan is second in command." Zitao smiles at Sehun. "To make this story a lot less tragic I’ll just get to the point. Outside the walls, outside the camps, away from the government and all the rules and regulations we are free.”
Sehun doesn't know what freedom truly is. "I don't understand though. What is so bad about living in the city?"
Zitao doesn't look too amused by the question but Sehun doesn't care. He doesn't see what the big deal is all about. I mean sure they could use a lot more trees and plants in the city, that wouldn't hurt but why go through all the trouble of living away from society? Why rebel?
"Sehun you still don't understand after all I’ve told you?" Zitao shakes his head shamefully. "They are oppressing you. They took away the trees, the animals, everything they could to have control. They are using you people as slaves. If they say jump you all jump. What is so wrong about wanting to live free from advanced technology? What is so wrong about wanting to build real relationships that take actual work and commitment? What is so wrong about nature? It's beautiful and all they want to do it destroy every last thing on this planet until it is nothing but steel and sadness." Zitao slams his fist down into the sand.
Sehun wants to reach out and touch him. He wants to hold him in his arms and get him to calm down but instead Sehun scoots away from the man. His intensity is quite off putting and strangely attractive all at the same time. But Sehun still doesn’t understand what is happening to him. He still can’t see the big picture. Everything Zitao has said is true but Sehun has lived within the walls for far too long. He was much too comfortable living in his sheltered home with no worries except the career test. Now with all these new things he has learned, he knows life isn't as simple as they want to make it seem inside the walls.
There is so much more to the world than Sehun could have ever fathomed.
Sehun moves closer to Zitao. He says nothing. There is nothing for him to say anyway.
------
The sun creeps over the horizon and Sehun watches in fascination. He has watched the sunrise before of course but it's never been this beautiful to him. He’s never actually sat and watched the beauty of a sunrise and really appreciated it. It’s something new, something he wants to really enjoy.
Zitao fell back asleep a little over twenty minutes ago. Sehun decided to let him sleep instead of waking him up. Sehun knew he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep sitting up like Zitao anyways so it wasn’t a problem and plus Zitao really looks like he needs as much sleep as he can get.
As soon as the sun is completely over the horizon Sehun reaches over and shakes Zitao awake. Zitao mumbles something incoherent but wakes up easily. He glances at Sehun. “Shit. Sorry I was just tired. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. You should’ve woken me up sooner.” Zitao yawns and stretches his arms over his head.
Sehun’s eyes travel to the others who are starting to miraculously wake up on their own. Sehun watches in fascination as they wake up without anyone having to do the job.
“Their bodies are used to waking up when the sun rises.” Zitao tells Sehun as he watches Sehun staring at the others with a semi look of shock on his face.
Sehun wonders if eventually that will happen to him too.